Where does the time go? I initially wanted to do a post similar to this when Alex turned 15 months old, but time never allowed. So, I tried again at 18 months and only got the title in place on blogger. Now, at 18.5 months, I'm attempting again and hope I haven't forgotten too much. Warning: this is a long post...for you, but also for me to refer back to so I can update her baby book one day. ha!
Alex has seemed to comprehend so much so early. However, from 15-18 months old, we noticed an even bigger development - physically, spiritually, mentally, and emotionally. Below is a small glimpse into each of these areas as I could fill a book of examples right now (if only I had time).
Physically - I'm not talking physical growth. She is still around the 50th percentile for physical growth. Her ability to balance, climb, run, hold her weight up, etc is exceptional. Not only do we encourage her to run "fast," but she actually does. She loves to run and say "Alex, fast." At her 18 mo check up, her pediatrician shared her concern because she was so good at climbing that she could possibly into meds or poison up high that we didn't think she could reach. Alex is very active and has much stamina. At various playgroups, the moms of little boys have commented how she is as active as the boys, can keep up, etc... But, she definitely has her girly side. Alex loves to accessorize with mommy's scarves, purses, shoes, gloves, bracelets, etc and daddy's hats, belts, her tutu, bows, etc... She often pretends she is painting my toe nails with my nail polish after watching me do it once. She also pretends to curl her lashes with my eyelash curler, put on makeup, etc...
Playing with Daddy's walking boot... when he first started using it after graduating from the crutches, he had an exaggerated limp. She would sometimes copy him and walk with a limp. She even copies me and walks sticking her belly out sometimes.
Spiritually - We've been praying with Alex before meals, naps, bedtime, and whenever for a long time now. She now requests to pray often and even names everybody she knows to certain people and even her toys, Dora characters, etc that she wants us to pray for. Her memory is amazing with people's names. When she thinks of someone's name, she will then name everyone in their family. I've been singing Jesus Loves Me to her before naps and bedtime for a while now, too. She now tries to sing it, but only says the important words: "Jesus, I know, the Bible." She fills in other words as we are singing it, but the above words are what she says when she wants us to sing it. So cute! We've talked about God/Jesus with her since (before) birth. She associates God and Jesus as being the same which is pretty cool. Just yesterday, I reminded her that God made the flowers that she picked. She looked at me and said, "Jesus."
Mentally - Alex associates things so well. When we went to the zoo a couple of weeks ago, I showed her the jaguar. She looked at me and said, "Diego" because Diego (cartoon character) is often holding a jaguar on the back of her Dora books. When we say Fellowship Bible Church (FBC) or mention Moms & More (Bible study at FBC), she says "fishies," "slide," "Lucy," "Lucy's mama," etc...things that this church has or reminds her of. After seeing a picture of Jack recently, a man who used to help in the nursery at our previous church, out of the blue she said, "Jack, goldfish" because he used to feed her goldfish every Sunday morning. When Alex receives a gift, I tell her who it is from. She often remembers and recalls that persons name when she sees gift.
Enjoying the indoor slide at FBC
Alex spot reads. You may think I'm making this up, but let me explain. About a month ago, I had a plain white jar (no pic) of nonbrand pineapples that read, "Pineapples." She pointed to it and said, "apples." She had never seen it before nor had I ever bought them before. She has several books with the word apple in them which we read a lot. Months ago I showed her the word "BABY" and asked her what it said, she instantly said "baby." Since then, I have done this with many words and names in the tub with her bathtub letters and she recognizes them. By the way, if you have come to visit Alex or had any impact on her, you have had the privilege of having your name spelled in the bathtub and definitely prayed for. She asks to spell names and words in the tub and coloring books all the time. We have even said things like "D/B/etc is for what?" and Alex will say "daddy/baby/etc." Alex can identify the whole alphabet and can count to 20 when she wants to... She can do it, but she often skips around with her numbers and then laughs as if she knows what she did. I'm laughing thinking about it because tonight she was counting her tea set plates and said "1, 2, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12, 12, 13, 12." Then, she laughed. See video.
Verbally... OMG! At her 15 month appt, the doc asked how many words could she say. I said "probably 100-200 words." The doc looked shocked. So, I started a list that day of words that I could think of that Alex could self generate. I stopped when the list reached 150+. At 18 months, we have learned there is nothing she can't repeat that she hears and she can remember words (and often their context) after hearing or saying them once! She has started talking in some sentences, too. Below are some of her phrases/sentences:
"Iont mo' bock bock." (1st sentence: said at 13 months. translation, "I want more chicken.")
"I like strawberries." (insert flowers, various foods, people, etc)
"I do/get/want/like/break/hold/touch/etc it." (basically, you could insert any verb here that she knows)
"I need mommy."
"Alex poo poo potty" (translation: Alex needs to poo poo on the potty.)
"Mommy read chair" (translation: Mommy, read to me in the chair.)
"Alex crying."
"Alex hurt head chair" (she points to whatever body part she hurt and tells what object hurt it.)
"Alex safe." "Mommy safe." Daddy safe." (anytime we buckle her into a carseat, stroller or she just sits down when in something she says "safe." Her Dora shows teaches that to wear seatbelts to be "safe.")
"Alex silly" (translation: Alex is silly.)
"Alex pick flowers?" (translation: Can I pick the flowers I see?)
"I falling" (if pretending to fall) or "I fell down" (when actually falls)
"Girl pushing" (translation: the girl was pushing me on the slide)
"Love you." (translation: I love you.)
Emotionally - Alex is very tenderhearted. If she hears or sees someone crying, she gets concerned and sad, especially with babies in public. She will make a sad face and say "baby crying." I often tell her they will be ok because they are with their mama. So, now she says, "baby crying, mama." So sweet. Alex is compassionate in other ways as well: if someone is crying over a toy, she will give hers away. Now, please know that she has learned to say "no, mine" and the attitude that comes with it which we are working on. Also, if Chris says anything firm to her, she bursts into tears. Overall, Alex is very happy.
Alex playing with baby brother's monkey. When she discovered the monkey and we told her whose it was, she said, "Alex monkey." Now, she correctly tells us whose monkey it is.
Randomness - Alex seems to have no fear. She will attempt to do anything (i.e. going down a very steep slide that was not made for 18 month olds). Alex loves people. She will talk to anybody in public, gets excited when we have company and loves to go to playdates. Alex loves animals and loves to pet them. Alex loves flowers, especially picking them. Alex enjoys swinging, sliding, dancing, singing, playing with friends, reading, baby dolls, strollers, stuffed animals, riding toys, etc... Alex is growing in independence which can result in defiance. Hence, we are working on her coming when we say come and not running from us. She is learning she does not always get what she wants. Alex is so into Dora that she relates so much of life to her Dora books or a Dora show (i.e. if she sees a drum, she says, "Benny, bam, bam, bam, bam" as he plays a drum in one show.) Alex still loves to eat and hardly turns anything away.
Alex brought her play cakes from her tea set to the table and asked to sit in the chair to pretend to eat them. Definitely into imaginative play.
"What, me come inside now? (mmm...should I run or obey?)"
On a playdate...watching the ducks play after they paraded down the red carpet at the Peabody in downtown Little Rock
Kiddos at trolley stop...before Alex's running episodes...she is still here because she is eating
Alex kept running while we were waiting to ride the trolley. One of the ladies we were with let us borrow her kid's harness. ha! Alex thought it was a game at first and kept running in all directions with it on laughing. Then, she came to me and said, "off" while tugging it. It did not come off until we got on the trolley!
on trolley
Melissa and Bella on trolley
Mommy, Alex and Gabi on trolley
Visiting Great Grandma and Papaw in Vicksburg, MS 
Playing at the cool new park in downtown Vicksburg, MS 
Tim kept Alex at his work while Chris and I went to a luncheon. Tim entertained her the whole time with all sorts of adventures. He sent us several pics of their time together (2 below).
Tim took Alex for batting practice
Alex on one of Tim's big work boats 
Cousin Kelly, Alex, and Aunt Tammy... We enjoyed a night with the Dyess family as we passed through Jackson. Since it was my birthday, we ate with them at my favorite Italian restaurant, Amerigos. It was so good! They have the best tiramasu (covered in special sauces).
Alex and Cousin Amy... Alex loved spending time with the Dyess family, especially with their indoor dog and 2 cats!!! She couldn't stop chasing and petting them. 
Playing at a beautiful park in Belhaven in Jackson 
Of course, we had to eat lunch at Keifers on our way out of Jackson. We enjoyed that meal with friends, Billy, Nancy, and their son, Wilson. Wilson entertained Alex with his drawings (see napkin in front of Alex) and she loved hanging out with them. She still asks to pray for them often. 
Our next stop was grandmother's house. This was our last time to go to this house as she just sold it and will be moving back to Vicksburg soon. We enjoyed our stay and Alex was excited to wake up to cousin Amber and Aunt Robin as they drove in after she went to bed. 
Amber, Grandmother, and Alex 
Amber and Alex 
Aunt Robin and Alex 
We were so excited to get to meet Hannah Sage when arriving to Birmingham, AL. My good friend from college, Kristen, had her just weeks before. 
Kristen and Hannah 
Chris and John at his rehearsal dinner 
Hanging out with some of Chris' high school friends at John's wedding: Will, Alice Kate, and Michael 
Alex eating her first ice cream in a cone at Jason's Deli. She did great and didn't even make a mess. However, she wasn't sure about eating the cone, but she stuck her tongue in it as far down as it would go to get to the ice cream. ha! 
Cousins Hunter, Anna Cate, and Alex being silly 
Anna Cate and Alex in their matching MSU tshirts
